Now Steinfeld is releasing her first EP, Haiz, which is so PG it could almost pass for Christian rock. On it she sings about saying “hell no” to drugs and opting instead for her headphones. There’s also a breakup song that just barely skirts using the word dick (and sounds weirdly similar to Annie’s “It’s the Hard-Knock Life”). Still, Steinfeld’s EP is ridiculously fun and infectious. (Expect to hear it in a Girls montage sometime soon.)

Steinfeld’s career has been gravitating toward music for the last year or so, beginning with her a cappella–singing role in Pitch Perfect 2 and her appearance in Swift’s “Bad Blood” video (as well as a cameo on Swift’s 1989 world tour). But she still has some understandable trepidation about getting into the music game. “I do find it nerve-racking that it is me and my story, and not a character or a role that I’m playing,” she said recently by phone. “It’s all happened so quick but so organically, which is what’s so special about it.” Here, more from Steinfeld about her new EP, performing at this year’s Jingle Ball, and the best advice she ever got from Taylor Swift.

Is there a backstory to the title of your EP?There is! I’m so glad you asked. “Haiz” is a name that my fans have called me for a reasonably long time now. And I really felt that if I called this EP Haiz, it would feel as though they named it. Mainly because—off of just “Love Myself,” off of just one single—seeing how many people that song connected me with, and how many people it brought on board, and how many people now show interest in what I have coming, I really wanted this to be a sort of thank you, in a way. I really wanted them to feel as though they named this EP for me.

“Love Myself” has caused quite a stir online. Is it weird or uncomfortable for you?I mean, no, it’s not. With “Love Myself,” I knew what I was putting out there and I have nothing to be ashamed of or anything. I’m completely proud of the song and so passionate about its message. I didn’t really think twice about it. I do, obviously, reiterate that the lyrics are subject to the listener’s interpretation. And the song is ultimately about taking care of yourself—and whether that means physically or emotionally or with material things, it shows how much power there is in having that self-love or self-confidence.

How are you feeling about Jingle Ball? Is there anyone you’re particularly excited to meet?Every time someone says it or every time I think about it, I just get this massive wave of excitement that comes over me. Just the idea of going on, like, a small tour—this will be my introduction to what it’s like to play a show in a different city two, three nights in a row—that, in general, is amazing. And this blows my mind, but I’m very lucky to call a lot of the people that are performing my friends.

Did having a cameo in Taylor Swift’s show help you prepare for your own tour?Oh, my God. That, I’ve experienced nothing like. The whole show we were all super present so that we weren’t going to be missing our cues. So we went backstage and we all got dressed together—it was me, Lena [Dunham], Gigi [Hadid], and Lily [Aldridge]—and Taylor’s up onstage doing her thing, no big deal, just another night. We were all telling each other: “Seriously, we’ve got to just take this all in.” We got up onstage, we got off, and we looked at each other, and we were like, “What the hell just happened? I don’t remember a thing. I’m pretty sure I just blacked out.”

Have you played your album for Taylor?I have not, no. That damn 1989 world tour is kind of getting in the way of things.

Has she given you any advice ahead of breaking into the music industry?Yeah. One of the first things she told me was, “You’re going to have to make a lot of decisions—make sure it’s you that’s making them.” And at that time, I was obviously very thankful for that and I nodded my head yes and we went on to our next conversation. It wasn’t until I had to start making decisions that I realized how many people are involved and how important it is that my decisions are being made. And I always think back to when she told me that. I mean, she’s made a few right decisions.

Who’s on your current playlist?Oh! Demi [Lovato]’s album is on repeat. Selena [Gomez]’s album, Revival, I have not stopped listening to. 1989 is, like, forever—I mean, the replay button is stuck. Alessia Cara, I’m a huge fan of and can’t wait for her album to release. Ariana Grande, I also can’t wait for her album to come out.

Haiz will be released this Friday, and it’s in good company: Both Justin Bieber and One Direction are releasing albums on that same day.I know! It wasn’t planned, but I’m so excited to be a part of what’s going to be a great day in music.